U15s lose two tight encounters

Scotland came up ten runs short against Northumberland in a tense and exciting finish at Alnmouth CC. The match was probably lost at the start of young Scot’s innings, although a remarkable fight-back from 38 for 7 nearly overtook the hosts’ modest total.

The day started well with the visitors bowling well to restrict Northumberland to 159 all out on a decent wicket. Opening bowlers Hughes Gillin (2 for 24) and Adil Ghaffar (4 for 27) kept things tight and the Scots dominated to the extent that Dagg top scored for Northumberland with only 26.

Spinners Ryan Cameron (1 for 28) and James Dickinson (2 for 21) maintained the pressure throughout the Northumberland innings as catches were safely held. The asking total seemed eminently gettable.

Unfortunately the Northumbrians were not required to display their catching credentials as the Scottish batting card shows 9 out bowled and one falling LBW. That deficiency in defence will hopefully be addressed in the coming weeks.

All looked lost when Hughes Gillen joined Shujaa Khan at the crease with the visitors on 38 for 7. Painstakingly they put together a partnership of 34. When he was bowled for 19 Adil Ghaffar then batted obdurately with Shujaa and they took the score to 132 as the tension mounted. Finally with the Northumberland top bowlers back, the Scots just failed to get over the line, Khan ending with a well- deserved 51.

Cumbria scraped home by two wickets in a tense finish at Hamilton Crescent. After losing the toss Scotland were inserted on a decent wicket.

A promising sedate opening stand was broken on 36 and things started to go wrong, as the side stuttered to 58 for 6. At that point a spirited seventh wicket stand ensued between Fred Culley and wicket keeper Tom Dryden of 46 runs. Fred top scored with 45 but the Scots were disappointed to fail to use their full allocation of overs and to subside to 123 all out. Cumbria bowled well and took several fine catches, the pick of the bowling being C Robson (2 for 18) and O Wilson (2 for 16)

It is a matter of some puzzlement how a wicket with so few perils in it produced so many dismissals for both sides. Only some lusty blows from J Lithgow (35) and steady batting from M Semple (36) saw the visitors scrape home with only two wickets to spare. The Scots fought well to the end, with Hughes Gillin returning figures of 4 for 34, but were left to rue the consequences of not setting a demanding enough target.